Hala Al Khayyat (Abu Dhabi)
The ban on the use of single-use plastic bags began yesterday, as part of the implementation of the integrated policy for single-use plastics launched by the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi in 2020. It was noticeable that shoppers received environmentally friendly bags while shopping at major retail outlets.
The retail outlets provided multiple alternatives, their prices ranged between half a dirham and 14 dirhams, so that the consumer had the option to choose the types that suit his budget, noting that all options are characterized by the possibility of using them for times ranging from 4 to 10 times. During a tour carried out by the Environment Agency in cooperation with the relevant authorities in Abu Dhabi yesterday, the “Union” monitored the compliance of the main retail outlets in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi to ban the use of single-use plastic bags.
The tour included Dr. Sheikha Salem Al Dhaheri, Secretary-General of the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi, Mohammed Munif Al Mansouri, Executive Director of the Abu Dhabi Business Center, Ahmed Tarish Al Qubaisi, Director of the Monitoring and Inspection Department from the Department of Economic Development, and Dr. Maryam Hareb Al Suwaidi, Acting Deputy Director General for Operational Affairs at the Abu Dhabi Authority For agriculture and food safety.
The tour included four retail outlets, which are Lulu Al Mushrif Mall branch, Spinneys Al Muroor Street branch, Carrefour Airport Street branch, and Abu Dhabi Cooperative Society – Al Muroor Street branch, where the retail outlets offered reusable bags for a nominal fee, to give customers the opportunity to reuse them when The need and encourage them to adopt a positive attitude towards the environment by avoiding the use of single-use plastic bags.
environment protection
Mohammed Munif Al Mansouri, Executive Director of the Abu Dhabi Business Center, affiliated with the Department of Economic Development – Abu Dhabi, said: “We are proud to participate in this important initiative with the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi, as it reflects Abu Dhabi’s vision for sustainability, and the Abu Dhabi Economy is committed to ensuring the provision of appropriate conditions for doing business and protecting consumers. Especially with regard to their safety and environmental protection, the proactive approach of major retail outlet companies to support the implementation of the single-use plastics policy in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi reflects the high awareness of these institutions regarding environmental issues, and their desire to make positive changes in line with Abu Dhabi’s strategic goals.
For her part, Dr. Maryam Hareb Al Suwaidi, Acting Deputy Director-General for Operational Affairs at the Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority, said: “We are proud to participate in this initiative and start implementing the ban on the use of single-use plastic bags and replacing them with biodegradable plastic bags, and we will work in cooperation with the Environment Agency to define Society with the dangers of non-biodegradable plastic bags and their environmentally friendly alternatives, and the development of community awareness of rational and sustainable consumption of our natural resources by reducing the negative effects of non-biodegradable plastic bags on human health, other living organisms and the environment.
She added: We encourage store owners and retail stores to abide by the ban on the use of single-use plastic bags, and we invite them to encourage consumers to positively interact with alternatives to single-use plastic bags, noting that plastic bags are made from non-renewable sources, and contribute significantly to climate change. Soil and water pollution.
Al Suwaidi explained that Abu Dhabi enjoys a distinguished global position in the field of environmental sustainability, and this initiative will contribute to reducing the impact of individuals on the environment, adopting sustainable alternatives and eliminating excessive consumption of non-biodegradable plastic bags. During the past week, a group of senior executives of major retail outlet companies in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi signed a voluntary declaration in which they committed to support the implementation of the policy of single-use plastics in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, which was launched by the authority in March 2020 and its legislation, to ensure a clean environment The marine and land emirates are one-time use plastic waste. The signatories included Abu Dhabi Co-operative Society, Spar, Carrefour, Lulu Hypermarket, Choithrams, Spence and Waitrose.
important day
During the tour, Dr. Sheikha Al Dhaheri said: “Today is an important day in the history of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, as we implement the ban on the use of single-use plastic bags as part of the single-use plastics policy. Today, we are pleased to see major retail outlets in the capital of Abu Dhabi commit to implementing the ban by providing environmentally friendly alternatives to single-use plastic bags. These positive and proactive changes by the retail outlets will allow us to achieve our goal of promoting sustainable lives for all residents of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.” Al Dhaheri added: “The government’s goal with the single-use plastics policy is to provide a more sustainable lifestyle for citizens and residents visiting the emirate of Abu Dhabi. We realize that change takes time, and we believe that society can take positive steps towards using reusable bags as a step that contributes to providing a healthy environment for all in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.”
campaign
To ensure the successful implementation of the ban, the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi is implementing a wide-ranging awareness campaign to encourage community members to play a role in protecting the environment, and to inform them of the available alternatives to environmentally friendly single-use plastic bags.
The authority works closely with all concerned authorities from the public and private sectors to ensure the success of banning single-use plastic bags, as the past period witnessed the participation of many concerned authorities in its application, which will contribute to the entry into force of the ban. The authority continues to work with major retail outlets and smaller grocery stores to raise their awareness of the negative effects of single-use plastic bags and urge them to provide alternatives for a small fee. The authority is also currently working on developing measures to reduce the consumption of single-use plastic materials and raise the efficiency of consumption of regarding 16 single-use plastic products. year 2024.
